"Welcome to the Mystic Chasm of Ice. Venture through its trials to claim the rewards and inherit our sect's esteemed Ice legacy, or face the dire consequences. Beware, the perils extend beyond the trials alone; you may be compelled to battle other contenders. Embrace the challenge, for within this chasm, your destiny shall be forged."
Tiara heard the old good voice speak, welcoming her to the Ice Chasm. The place was cold, brimming with rich Ice Qi. Tiara didn't know it, but she was lucky to have Ken's support; he killed everyone who approached the Ice Chasm and the Lightning Chasm to aid Tiara and Alaric respectively.
The ice princess looked around her, taking in the view. The stone walls were covered in a thick layer of ice, and the floor was slippery and difficult to walk on. She had to cover her feet with a thin layer of Ice Qi to allow herself to walk normally.
The tunnel was long and cold, and the water vapor in the air made it harder to see. After walking for a while, she finally made it to a large building shaped like a dome and entirely built of ice.
"I would wait if I were you."
Tiara heard the voice talk to her. She never knew where it was coming from, so she simply answered as if a person stood in front of her.
"Why is that?"
"Because a fifth-stage cultivator is going through that challenge right now. The tests are impartial, but it would be unfair if you went through the same challenge as him. Wait for him to finish, and the room will be adjusted to your stage. Of course, if someone of a higher stage comes while you're in, you will find yourself in trouble."
Tiara simply nodded and sat down on the cold ice. She could feel the Ice Qi around her, and it was a good place to keep working on creating her Nascent Soul.
She reminisced about how Ken provided her with an upgraded edition of her manual, continually refining and customizing it to perfection.
'I was skeptical at first, but he did a great job. I planned on separating from him once I'm officially a disciple of the Serene Lotus Sect, but not anymore. If he can achieve so much by the age of 8, the benefits I can acquire by remaining by his side will only grow in the future.'
Tiara thought to herself as she remembered the beautiful young child. Despite her usual indifference, even she had to admit that the nickname Forbidden Fruit was spot on.
While using the Ice Qi and Saber Qi of her core to construct her Nascent Soul step by step, she remembered her past in the Phoenix Feather Sect.
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"Remember, our clan is declining because we've been too lenient with our children, causing them to be lazy in their cultivation and turning weak. We won't let the new generation become useless too."
It was a scene of an old woman scolding a kneeling couple while holding the hand of a crying young girl. The child was only 6 years old, and she was extremely anxious about being separated forcibly from her parents. However, the old woman turned a cold shoulder to her plight and only looked down at the begging couple with disdain.
"Ancestor, please have mercy! Don't take our child from us! We will be rough with her and never allow her to slack off in her training!"
"What can waste like you even do for her if I let you teach her? Are you saying you can guide her better than me, a peak seventh-stage cultivator?"
A cold aura burst out of the old woman's body, and the couple on the floor were coated in a thin layer of ice as their teeth chattering so loud everyone heard it in the silent room. In their frozen state, they couldn't even beg anymore.
"Hmph, the saying 'Prosperity won't last for more than three generations' is true. How can my great-grandchildren be so weak?" (1)
The woman snorted in disgust. The couple was over 100 years old, and they were still in the fourth stage. She blamed herself and the ones of her generation for allowing the young masters and mistresses to play around and rely on their statuses for power instead of forcing them to work hard.
"Tiara, come with me. Grandma will make sure you shall never end up as useless as your parents and grandparents."
"I don't want to! I want to stay with Mom and Dad!"
The girl screamed in panic, but her ancestor's grip was too strong, and she was helpless against it.
"In your generation, our family will go back to the top. Don't worry child, I will take good care of you. You can call me Grandmother or Grandma."
She heard her grandmother say with determination and conviction as she was dragged after her. The ancestor, also known as Naomi, forced the young girl to study and practice fighting with the saber until she was 10.
When Tiara turned 10, she was given the pill version of the Body Tempering Liquid and Naomi guided her on the procedure of strengthening her body. She already memorized the whole manual when she was nine, but her grandmother didn't risk her making any mistakes.
She passed the next years cultivating on ice platforms half naked, only to get accustomed to the coldness which would allow her later to develop Ice Qi better.
She was brought to the verge of death multiple times, but Naomi always kept guard. Whenever it turned too dangerous, the old woman would dispel the coldness and feed her with expensive healing pills.
As time passed, the young child only developed a strong hatred for the woman who forced her to suffer every day and never allowed her to meet with her parents. She worked hard to become stronger only so she could be freed from Naomi's grip as soon as possible.
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A/N: (1) Prosperity won't last for longer than three generations – wealth will be squandered by lazy descendants.
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